Surgical staple

Abstract

A surgical staple for inserting into one or more bone parts comprises a plate, a first screw and a second screw. The plate includes a first end, an opposed second end, a first aperture that is positioned near the first end, and a second aperture that is positioned near the second end. Additionally, the plate is curved along a length of the plate from the first end to the second end. The first screw extends through the first aperture. The second screw extends through the second aperture. Further, the first screw and the second screw are angled toward one another when the surgical staple is in a relaxed configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical staple system for inserting into one or more bone parts, comprising:
 a staple including:   a plate extending from a first end to a second end and having a first surface and a spaced-away opposing second surface, the first surface being a bone-facing surface, and the second surface being a flat surface,
 a first side section extending from the first surface of the plate at a first angle such that the first side section is configured to be received within a first bone portion, the first side section defining a first aperture having a first axis, and 
 a second side section extending from the first surface of the plate at a second angle such that the second side section is configured to be received within a second bone portion, the second side section defining a second aperture having a second axis, 
   wherein the staple is movable between a first position and a second position, and   wherein a third angle between the first axis and the second axis when the staple is in the first position is different from a fourth angle between the first axis and the second axis second axis when the staple is in the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical staple system of  claim 1  wherein the plate has an angle of curvature of between approximately 16.0 and 26.0 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical staple system of  claim 1  wherein the plate has an angle of curvature of between approximately 20.0 and 22.0 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical staple system of  claim 2  wherein the plate includes a center that is positioned between and spaced-apart from the first end and the second end, and wherein the plate has a plate deflection from the center to the first end of between approximately 0.5 and 1.0 millimeters. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical staple system of  claim 4  further comprising a first side section and a second side section that cantilever away from the plate, the first side section cantilevering away from the plate near the first end, and the second side section cantilevering away from the plate near the second end. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical staple system of  claim 5  wherein the first screw extends through the first side section, and wherein the second screw extends through the second side section. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical staple system of  claim 5  wherein the first side section and the second side section are angled toward one another when the surgical staple is in the relaxed configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical staple system of  claim 5  wherein the first side section cantilevers away from the plate at a leg angle of between approximately 75.0 and 85.0 degrees when the surgical staple is in the relaxed configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical staple system of  claim 1  wherein the plate is resilient. 
     
     
         10 . A surgical staple for inserting into one or more bone parts, the surgical staple being selectively movable between a relaxed configuration and an opened configuration, the surgical staple comprising: 
       a middle section; and
 a first side section that cantilevers away from the middle section, the first side section including an upper portion that is rounded and positioned substantially adjacent to the middle section and an end that is positioned away from the middle section, wherein the end is wider than the upper portion. 
 
     
     
         11 . The surgical staple of  claim 10  further comprising a second side section that cantilevers away from the middle section, the second side section including an upper portion that is rounded and positioned substantially adjacent to the middle section and an end that is positioned away from the middle section, wherein the end is at least approximately fifteen percent wider than the upper portion. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical staple of  claim 11  wherein the middle section includes a first end and an opposed second end, wherein the first side section cantilevers away from the middle section near the first end, and wherein the second side section cantilevers away from the middle section near the second end. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical staple of  claim 12  wherein the first side section and the second side section are angled toward one another when the surgical staple is in the relaxed configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical staple of  claim 13  wherein the middle section includes first aperture that is positioned near the first end and a second aperture that is positioned near the second end, and further comprising (i) a first screw that extends through the first aperture and through the first side section, and (ii) a second screw that extends through the second end and through the second side section. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical staple of  claim 10  wherein the first side section cantilevers away from the middle section at a leg angle of between approximately 75.0 and 85.0 degrees when the surgical staple is in the relaxed configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical staple of  claim 15  wherein the middle section and the first side section are resilient. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical staple system of  claim 1 , wherein the first side section provides a first cantilever near the first end and the second side section provides a second cantilever near the second end. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical staple system of  claim 17 , wherein the first surface of the plate includes a flat portion. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical staple system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first screw sized and configured to be received within the first aperture. 
     
     
         20 . The surgical staple system of  claim 19 , further comprising a second screw sized and configured to be received within the second aperture. 
     
     
         21 . The surgical staple system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second apertures are threaded. 
     
     
         22 . The surgical staple system of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the plate includes a flat portion. 
     
     
         23 . A system, comprising:
 a staple, including
 a middle section extending from a first end to a second end, the middle section having a bone-facing side and a flat side that is disposed opposite the bone-facing side, 
 a first cantilever extending from the first end of the middle section and being configured to be received in a first bone, the first cantilever defining a first hole extending parallel to a first longitudinal axis defined by the first cantilever, 
 a second cantilever extending from the second end of the middle section and being configured to be received in a second bone, the second cantilever defining a second hole extending parallel to a second longitudinal axis defined by the second cantilever, 
   wherein an angle between the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis when the staple is in a first position is different from an angle between the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis when the staple is in a second position.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 a first screw sized and configured to be received within the first hole and at least partially contact the first bone when first cantilever is disposed within is disposed within the first bone and the first screw is disposed in the first hole, and   a second screw sized and configured to be received within the second hole and at least partially contact the second bone when the second cantilever is disposed within the second bone and the second screw is disposed in the second hole.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the first longitudinal axis is disposed at a first oblique angle with respect to a longitudinal axis defined by the middle section, and wherein the second longitudinal axis is disposed at a second oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis defined by the middle section.